South Africa knock out co-hosts West Indies and top their Super Eight group        South Africa's Marco Jansen celebrates winning the match after hitting a six during the T20 World Cup 2024 Super Eight cricket match between West Indies and South Africa at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda on June 23, 2024. — AFP

South Africa edged the West Indies by three wickets in a rain-affected Super Eights match on Sunday to reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals and eliminate the host nation.

Chasing a revised 123 off 17 overs after the West Indies made 135-8, South Africa stuttered to 110-7 as Roston Chase took three wickets, but they reached their target with five balls to spare when Marco Jansen hit Obed McCoy for six.

With their win, the unbeaten Proteas have joined England in the last four as Group 2 winners.

The other two semi-finalists will be decided on Monday when India and Australia meet in St Lucia and Afghanistan take on Bangladesh in St Vincent in the last two matches in the Super Eight stage.

Left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi had earlier taken 3-27 as tournament co-hosts West Indies were restricted to 135-8 before the rainstorm swept in to stop play.

Earlier in the day, South Africa on the toss and elect to bowl first in a decision that was quickly vindicated when danger men Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran were dismissed inside the first two overs with just five runs on the board.

Kyle Mayers, brought into the West Indies squad as an injury replacement on Saturday, steadied the innings in a partnership of 81 for the third wicket with Chase.

Both had some fraught moments — Chase was dropped on 11 and Mayers survived an lbw call on review — before Shamsi separated them in the 12th over when Mayers slashed the ball to Tristan Stubbs at deep cover point to depart for 35.

That was the last partnership of note in an innings of fits and starts, Chase (52) and Sherfane Rutherford (0) falling victim to Shamsi's wrist spin, and Andre Russell thumping a couple of big sixes before being run out for 15.

West Indies knew they were under-par and needed a big bowling effort and Russell gave them a great start.

He struck with the first delivery of the innings to remove Reeza Hendricks caught behind down the leg side before having the other South Africa opener, Quinton de Kock, caught at backward square leg for 12 five deliveries later.

The match was interrupted due to rain and resumed after 90 minutes of delay with South Africa resuming their chase at 15-2.

Despite the hosts' strenuous efforts to defend their revised 123-run target (originally 135 runs) the Proteas managed to come out on top and clinched the game in the 17th (last) over.

Teams:

West Indies (Playing XI): Kyle Mayers, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran(w), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell(c), Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Obed McCoy

South Africa (Playing XI): Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi